Trough type center hatch arrangement



Jan. 26, 1965 F. P. ADLER 3,167,030

TROUGH TYPE CENTER HATCH ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wi Mg! INVENTOR. FRANKUN P A LER U4 WW 1965 F. P. ADLER 3,167,030

TROUGH TYPE CENTER HATCH ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 29, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANKUN P ADLER Jan. 26, 1965 F. P. ADLER 3,157,030

TRQUGH TYPE CENTER HATCH ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FRANKUN F? ADLER @MWM W Jan. 26, 1965 F. P. ADLER 3,157,030

TROUGH TYPE CENTER HATCH ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRANKUN P ADLER United States Patent Ofitice 3,167,030 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 3 lelilflli TRQUGH TYPE QElilliR HATQH ARRANGEMEYIT Franklin I. Adler, Michigan Qity, ind, assignor to Fullman Incorporated, tihicago, ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 29, 1963,5ier. No. 2%,759 13 Claims. (Qt. Elfi -33 7} The present invention relates to covered hopper vehicles and more particularly to a hatch cover arrangement employed in covered hopper cars.

Covered hopper vehicles generally include a plurality of lengthwise spaced hoppers, each having an individual discharge portion at the lower end thereof. Conventionally the tops of the cars are covered to protect the cargo being carried from the weather and the like and loading of the individual hoppers is accomplished by way of a hatch formed in the top. Heretofore, it has been commonly practiced to provide each of the hoppers with separate hatches and covers therefor. Such arrangements necessitated the removal of each of the covers for loading and required individual loading of the hoppers through the associated hatches.

To facilitate the loading, it has also been proposed to provide a single continuous hatch and cover therefor extending over each of the hoppers. In these continuous hatch arrangements the hatch covers have generally been pivotally attached along one side of the hatch for swing movement over and away from the hatch. Hatch covers of this general type have generally been of such weight that it requires two men to safely manipulate the same. Moreover, with the swinging type of the hatch in the open position thereof the underside is exposed and collects debris such as dirt and the like, which when the hatch is closed drops into the hoppers so as to tend to contaminate the cargo stored therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a covered hopper car hatch arrangement which obviates the dilficulties encountered heretofore.

It is a further object to provide a covered hopper car hatch arrangement which is of relatively simple construction and easy to handle.

It is still a further object to provide a new and improved roof for covering a plurality of hoppers in a hopper car wherein the roof incorporates a hatch arrangement including a hatch opening extending continuously over each of the hoppers, and a hatch cover means which is mounted for movement between a horizontal covering position over the hatch opening and a horizontal position over the roof to one side of the opening.

A more specific object is to provide an improved hopper car construction wherein a series of hopper type compartments are available for uninterruptedly loading the compartments by the provision of a continuous unitary hatch opening, and a hatch cover arrangement including operating means therefor for efficient movement of the cover into and out of hatch-opening sealing position.

Further objects and features will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a covered hopper car embodying the hatch cover arran ement of the present invention. a

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hopper car.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary crosssectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the hatch cover arrangement showing the operating mechanism for fastening and moving the hatch cover, portions of the hatch cover and the top semi-cylindrical rim of the hatch frame being broken away to show the pivot assembly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the car showing the hatch cover in its closed position and showing the hatch cover in the open position in phantom lines.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary crossectional end View taken through the hatch and cover.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the figures, the hatch arrangement MB of the present invention is shown embodied in a covered hopper car of more or less conventional construction, including side walls 12, end walls 13, and a roof 14. Disposed between the end walls 13 and the side walls 12 are hoppers ll of which the upper portions thereof are shown in FIG. 3. The lower or discharge portions (not shown) extend between the trucks and may be of any suitable design.

The hatch arrangement ll is formed in the roof 14 which extends between and is fixed to the side and end walls 12 and 13 in the usual manner and includes generally a hatch opening and a hatch cover 17 disposable thereover and movable as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 between the closed position shown in the full lines to a hatch open position shown in phantom. Movement of the hatch cover 17 between the open and closed positions shown is accomplished by means of operating mechanisms 18 which are constructed and arranged to displace the hatch cover 17 vertically into and out of a cover sealing engagement with the hatch opening 16 and when so displaced out of sealing engagement permit the cover to be shifted in a substantially horizontal plane to a position spaced from and clear of the hatch opening 16.

As shown the roof 14 includes side roof sheets 19 which are fixed along their outer edges to the side walls 12 and end roof sheets 21 which are fixed along their transverse edges to the end walls 13 and inside carlines 15 and along their side edges to the side walls 12. Suitable transverse reinforcing means or outside carlines which may be in the form of angles 22 are spaced lengthwise of the car and fixed to the outer surface of the roof sheets. Running boards 23 extending the length of the car are fixed to the transverse reinforcing angles 22 on opposite sides of the hatch opening. Additional running boards 24 are fixed to the roof end sections at each end of the hatch opening 16.

The hatch opening is defined along its longitudinal edges by upright frame members 26 and 27 formed along the inner sides of the roof sheets E9. The frame members 26 and 27 are each formed with an inwardly and upwardly inclined section 28 from the inner end of which there extends substantially vertical sides 29 and 31 respectively. Curling outwardly from each of the vertical sides 29 and 3 are semi-cylindrical rims 32 on which the hatch cover 17 is adapted to rest in sealing engagement as more fully to be explained hereinafter. The vertical side 31 is of a lower height than the vertical side 29 to the extent required to accommodate the components of the hatch cover operating mechanism and permit lateral movement of the hatch cover 17 thereover.

The ends of the opening 16 are similarly defined by upright frame members 30 formed along the inboard ends of the end roof sheets 21. Each of the frame members 30 includes an upwardly and inwardly inclined wall 33, an upstanding end wall 34, and an outwardly curled semicylindrical rim, the rim being curled similarly to the rims 32 and inclined to accommodate the difference in height of the side upright frame members 26 and 27.

Bracing and reinforcing the roof 14 at spaced intervals along the length of the hatch opening are reinforcing assemblies, as shown in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8. The reinforcing assemblies 37 each include a U-shaped welded to the adjacent sheets 42;.

. 3 top stilfener plate 38 extending transversely across the opening 16 and fixed at its ends to the associated roof hatch frame members 26 and 27 by way of gussets 39 welded to the inclined portions 23.

The stiffener plate 38 is formed with a curved section so as to provide a smooth flowage surface over which the material flows during loading of the hoppers. Fixed to the underside of the upper stitfener plate 38 is a stiffener web 41 which extends between the side walls 12 and functions also as an inside carline. The stiffener web 41 is fixed to the side walls 12 at its ends and to the underside of the roof 14 along its upper edges.

Along the area in which the hatch opening overlies a hopper partitioning wall 4d as shown in FIG. 3, the partitioning wall 49 may be formed with a U-shaped cut-out to receive the upper stiffener plate 33 which is fixed as described above. The hopper partitioning wall 40 provides adequate reinforcement along the attachment to the car sides 12.

The hatch covers 17 may be formed from a plurality of end to end positional sheets 42 joined by strips 43 The cover 17 is formed along the side overlying the frame member 26 with a downwardly depending lip 44 which is adapted to extend over the end of the adjacent rim 32. Along the other side overlying the frame member 27 the cover 17 is formed with a downwardly depending flange 46 of a length such that when the horizontal web 47 projecting therefrom rests on the adjacent rim 32 as shown in FIG. 5, the cover 17 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position. Projecting downwardly from the horizontal web 4'? is the lip 44. A similar lip 54 is formed along the ends of the hatch cover 17 depending from the inclined horizontal web 48 extending from a vertical flange 49. Suitably fixed to the underside of the cover 17 along the areas contacting the rim 32 is a sealing gasket 51 formed from rubber or the like.

The hatch cover operating means 18 for lifting and moving the hatch cover 1'7 includes generally a plurality of hand wheel assemblies 52 associated with pivot assem blies 50.

The hand wheel assemblies 52 each include a hand wheel axle 53 to the upper end of which there is fixed a hand wheel 54. At its lower end the axle is threaded and turnably supported in a pivot arm 55 of the cover pivoting assembly 50. Overlying an opening 6! in the hatch cover 17 and fixed thereto is an axle bearing '6 having an opening 57 accommodating the axle 53. An axle washer 58 is fixed to the axle 53 and underlies the axle bearing 56. A stop washer 59 is fixed to the lower end of the axle 53 to prevent detachment of the latter from the pivot arm 55.

The hatch cover pivot means 50 includes the pivot arm 55 which threadably receives at one end the axle 53. At its other end the pivot arm 55 is fixed to a pivot stud 61 journaled in a pivot bracket 62 which is fixed to the upright flange 31 of the frame member and the stilfener plate 38 by means of attachment plates 63. Fixed to pivot stud 61 is a bearing 64 and between the underside of the bearing 64 and the top of the pivot bracket 62 is a pivotally mounted thrust bearing 66.

For limiting turning movement of the pivot stud 61 and thereby the pivot arm 55 a stop lug 67 is fixed thereon which coacts with a stop lug 68 fixed to the bearing housing 62. The housing stop lug 68 and pivot stop lug 67 are located so that the hatch cover 17 is freely angularly movable about 100 to the position shown in phantom lines and designated as O in which position the hatch cover 17 clears the opening 16. Also the bearing housing stop lug 68 is located to abut the pivot arm 55 when the hatch cover 17 is disposed in alignment with the hatch opening 16.

In operation assuming that the hatch cover 17 is in its closed position wherein the components of each of the hatch cover operating assemblies 18 are in the position shown in FIG. 5, a seal '71 tied about one of the hand wheels 54 and a strap 72 fixed to the hatch cover 17 is broken. In order to provide free access through the hatch opening 16 the handle 54 of each the handle wheel assemblies 51 is turned so that screw end of the axle 53 threaded in the pivot arm 55 moves upwardly. The hatch cover 17 fixed to each of the axles by means of the hearing collar 56 disposed between the washer 5S and the hand wheel 54 is accordingly raised. The hand wheels are turned until the hatch cover assumes the position designated U as shown in phantom in FIG. 5.

In the raised position U the lip 44 is clear of the rim 32 on the side frame member 26 so that the cover 17 is free to be shifted laterally over and clear of the opening. This is accomplished by pushing against a hand.

wheel 54 in the direction of pivoting movement A of the pivot arm 55 as shown in PEG. 4. The pivot arms 55 associated with the other assemblies 13 also simultaneously pivot or swing in the same direction and form in the nature of a parallelogram linkage so that the hatch cover 17 is displaced in a substantially horizontal plane. Shifting movement of the hatch cover 17 is terminated by engagement of the stop lugs 67 and 68 and assumes the open position 0 as shown in FIG. 5.

To close the hatch cover 17 the procedure is reversed; the hatch cover being pivoted in the direction B until arm 55 comes into contact with stop lug 68 in which position the hatch cover 17 is aligned with the hatch opening 16 as shown in the phantom line position designed U. Thereafter the hand wheels 54 are turned to lower the hatch cover 17 and the latter is tightly clamped on the rims 3:2.

What is claimed is:

1. In a covered hopper car having a roof and plurality of hoppers covered by said roof, a hatch arrangement on said roof comprising a hatch opening defined by frame members including a continuous rim formed in said roof and extending continuously over each of said hoppers, continuous hatch cover means for covering said opening and sealingly engageable with said rim, and hatch cover operating means including means for raising said hatch cover means out of sealing engagement with said rim and a covering position over said opening, and means support ing said raising means for shifting said cover means in a horizontal plane to one side of said hatch opening.

2. In a covered hopper car having a roof and a plurality of hoppers covered by said roof, a hatch arrangement on said roof comprising a hatch opening formed in said roof and extending continuously over each of said hoppers, said opening being defined by frame members including continuous rims which provide a transverse inclination to one side of said opening, continuous hatch cover means for covering said opening and having complementary means for sealing engagement with said rims, hatch cover operating means including means for raising said hatch cover means out of a covering position over said opening for clearance relative to said rims, and the same may be shifted between a position over said hatch cover means in a horizontal plane toward said one side of said 'hatch opening.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for raising said hatch cover means includes a hand wheel, axle means fixed to said hand wheel for turning movement therewith, said axle means being threadably supported by said shifting means for raising of said cover means relative thereto upon turning of said hand wheel, whereby in the raised position of said hatch cover means the same may be shifted between a position over said opening and a position toward said one side thereof.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said shifting means supporting said raising means is in the form of a horizontal arm pivotally mounted along one side of said opening.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said for raising said hatch cover means includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced hand wheels, axle means fixed to said hand wheels for turning movement therewith, means supporting said axle means on said shifting means so that upon turning of said axle means said hatch cover means is raised or lowered; and wherein said shifting means comprises a pivot arm pivotally mounted relative to said opening for movement in a substantially horizontal plane whereby said hatch cover means may be shifted between its elevated position over said opening and a position on said one side of said opening.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said hatch opening at longitudinally spaced intervals thereof is reinforced .by transverse rib means having convex surface portions directed toward said opening,

7. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said hatch opening at longitudinally spaced intervals thereof is reinforced by transverse rib means having convex surface portions directed toward said opening.

8. A hopper construction adapted for use in a railway car, said construction comprising a series of hoppers having multiple discharge and filling means, said filling means including hatch openings in communication with the interior of each hopper, single hatch cover means simultaneously sealing said hatch openings, and operating means extending between said hatch cover means and support means forming a part of said construction to move said hatch cover means toward and away from said hatch openings, whereby said hatch cover means is moved relative to said hatch openings to simultaneously seal or expose the same.

9. In a covered hopper car having a roof and a plurality of hoppers covered by said roof comprising a hatchopening formed in said roof and extending continuously over each of said hoppers, hatch cover means for covering said hatch opening, and hatch cover operating means mounted on said roof and supporting said hatch cover means, said operating means including means for upwardly displacing said hatch cover means from a sealing position over said hatch opening and means for moving said hatch cover means in a substantially horizontal plane between a position overlying said hatch opening and a position overlying said roof to one side of said hatch opening.

10. In a covered hopper car having a roof immovably aflixed along the sides and ends of said car, and having a plurality of hoppers covered by said roof, a hatch arrangement comprising a hatch opening formed in said car and uninterruptedly extending lengthwise over each of said hoppers, said hatch opening having a lateral dimension less than the sections of said aflixed roof along the sides of said hatch opening, hatch cover means for covering said hatch opening, and hatch cover operating means mounted on said affixed roof and supporting said hatch cover means, said hatch cover operating means including means for upwardly displacing said hatch cover means from a sealing position over said opening and means for moving said hatch cover means in a substantially horizontal plane between a position overlying said hatch opening and to a position to one side of said hatch opening overlying said sections of said afiixed roof.

11. A roof for covering a plurality of hoppers of a hopper oar, said roof comprising sheet means transversely extending reinforcing means fixed to said sheet means, a hatch opening formed in said roof intermediate the outer edges of said s eet means and extending lengthwise of said car for providing uninterrupted lengthwise access to load the plurality of hoppers, said hatch opening being defined by upstanding frame members on said sheet means and including a continuous rim formed on the upper ends of said frame members, hatch cover means for coverinng said hatch opening including means complementary to said rim for sealing engagement therewith, and hatch cover operating means on said roof supporting said hatch cover means for movement to displace said hatch cover upwardly out of sealing engagemen and for movement between a position over said hatch opening and a position over said sheet means along one side of said opening.

12. A roof for covering a plurality of hoppers of a hopper car, said roof comprising sheet means, a hatch opening formed in said roof intermediate the sides of said sheet means and extending lengthwise of said car for providing uninterrupted lengthwise access to load the plurality of hoppers, said hatch opening being defined by up standing frame members on said sheet means and including a continuous rim formed on the upper ends of said frame members, reinforcing means spaced lengthwise of said roof and fixed to the underside of said sheet means to transversely span said hatch opening, said reinforcing means including flowage surface means over which the material being loaded into the hoppers is adapted to flow, hatch cover means for covering said hatch opening including means complementary to said rim for sealing engagement therewith, and hatch cover mounting means on said roof supporting said hatch cover means for movement upwardly out of sealing engagement and for movement between a position over said hatch opening and a position over said sheet means along one side of said opening.

13. A hatch arrangement for a roof covering a plurality of hoppers of a covered hopper car and wherein the roof has an opening formed intermediate the side edges and continuously extends lengthwise of said roof to provide uninterrupted access to each of the hoppers during loading thereof, said hatch arrangement comprising upstanding f-rarning members for continuously extending about said opening said framing members including a continuous rim on the upper ends thereof, hatch cover means including means complementary to said rim for sealing engagement therewith, and hatch cover operating means mounted on said framing members and supporting said hatch cover means for movement displacing said rim and said complementary hatch cover means into and upwardly out of sealing engagement and for horizontal movement between a position over said opening and a position along one side of said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,883 3/14 Schott 220-33 2,260,752 10/41 Marasso 220-25 2,730,964 1/ 5 6 Garlock 248 2,840,010 6/58 Roen 105377 3,008,759 11/61 Stiefel et a1 105--377 X ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COVERED HOPPER CAR HAVING A ROOF AND PLURALITY OF HOPPERS COVERED BY SAID ROOF, A HATCH ARRANGEMENT ON SAID ROOF COMPRISING A HATCH OPENING DEFINED BY FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS RIM FORMED IN SAID ROOF AND EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY OVER EACH OF SAID HOPPERS, CONTINUOUS HATCH COVER MEANS FOR COVERING SAID OPENING AND SEALINGLY ENGAGEABLY WITH SAID RIM, AND HATCH COVER OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR RAISING SAID HATCH COVER MEANS OUT OF SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RIM AND A COVERING POSITION OVER SAID OPENING, AND MEANS SUPPORT- 